The NHS has launched a national review of diverting patients away from A&E following the death of a Whitchurch man.

David Birtwistle died in hospital on November 15, last year, just 48 hours after being discharged from the Bristol Royal Infirmary’s (BRI) emergency department.

The 44-year-old, who was suffering from a persistent sore throat and cough, was referred to A&E by the NHS 111 helpline after seeing his GP on November 10.

But the car fleet controller was prescribed steroids and an inhaler and told to go home as part of a Front Door scheme ran from the BRI, which was launched by private company Bris-Doc Healthcare Services on November 9.

The pilot scheme, which was set up by a group of GPs to relieve pressure on stretched NHS services, was suspended following David’s death but similar projects were said to be setting up across the country this year.

But according to the Daily Telegraph, the plans are under review after Mr Birtwistle was sent away from hospital and told to see a GP instead.

Bristol Royal Infirmary

NHS England was unable to say whether its £1 million review had been launched before or after the death of David Birtwistle, who died of a pulmonary embolism in November two days after being diverted from the department.

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Following the inquest into his death in March, assistant coroner for Avon Terence Moore wrote to the NHS asking for a national review of “serious incidents and near misses in similar ’front door’ services” to take place “as a matter of some urgency”.

The decision to send Mr Birtwistle away from A&E meant “further tests, which could have led to an earlier diagnosis of his condition, were not done”.

The coroner said at the time if the previously healthy 44-year-old had been seen by A&E he could have been saved.

He added: “In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken.”

A spokeswoman for NHS England said: “Guidance to hospitals on making sure patients get the level of clinical care they need has been specifically updated in the light of this (the review), so as to make sure that people who need GP care can get it, and people needing specialist assessment can quickly do so.

“GPs successfully look after 300 million patient consultations every year, compared with 23 million A&E visits.”

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Speaking after the hearing at Avon Coroner’s Court in March this year, Trina Birtwistle, David’s wife, said: “We hope that any lessons learned from the inquest will be put into practice quickly so that others do not suffer.

“When changes are made to the Accident and Emergency system at a hospital, they should always be made with the first priority of saving lives.

“Our family also expected there to be greater communication between the NHS 111 helpline and the A&E departments.

“Dave followed the route that most people are advised to follow when they are unwell.

“He went to his GP first, then sought advice from the NHS 111 helpline and then followed that advice when he went to the hospital.

“The family will be studying the coroner’s findings following the inquest, but nothing can fill the gap left in our lives by losing Dave.”

A spokesman for NHS Bristol Clinical Commissioning Group said: “We would like to express our deepest condolences, once again, to the family of Mr Birtwistle.

“This tragic incident has affected everyone who cared for him. The pilot project was immediately halted and thorough internal investigations were carried out. We also commissioned a thorough independent review.

“All of the learning following this tragic incident is now being acted upon in planning next steps for urgent and emergency care, in line with national guidance.”